I'm in the process of building an incubator. I'm building it similar to the sportsman. The problem I'm having is I have a fan in it but I can't seem to keep the temp consistent threw out. I haven't put any vent holes in it yet and I'm not real sure how big or how many it would need.

Quote:Thanks for the info on the vent holes! My problem is its 20 deg difference between the first and second shelve?? I don't understand how it could be off that bad. I don't have air space at the back.

In the sportsman, the trays go back to the first inside wall; there is then a dead space between the first inside wall and the second or exterior wall. I'm sorry I don't have a picture. I hope you can understand what I mean.

In my opinion the Sportsman is not well designed. If you can still cut on your cabinet, make the front half of the top a door so you can service the humidity pans without opening the front of the incubator. One and one half inch vent holes are adequate for an incubator of the size shown. One in the top directly over the humidity pans, and one centered on the lower part of the door. Humidity can be controled very accurately by adjusting the amount of vent opening. Another flaw is, that on the Sportsman the primary thermostat is mounted in front of the heating element. Try to mount it on the rear wall where the air is rising from the egg trays. The secondary is fine mounted in front.

You might need a curculation system in your incubator. Maybe adding several fans around the incubator to make sure heat gets around? Also, I don't think that wood is very good insulation, it absorbs alot of humidity and doesn't trap heat well, that maybe one of your problems? But don't listen to me, I'm not even that sure of what I'm saying. My only expirience is research.